Category Archives: Poems about Life

Jessica and Anthony had Anthony’s Uncle Charlie read this prayer during their wedding ceremony yesterday in Newport, RI. This is my first encounter with this all too timely prayer written by Mary Stewart in 1904, while she was principal of Longmont High School in Colorado.

Mary Stewart’s Prayer

Keep us, O God, from all pettiness.

Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off all self-seeking.

May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, without self pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment, and always be generous.

Let us always take time for all things, and make us to grow calm, serene and gentle. Teach us to put into action our better impulses, to be straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize that it is the little things of life that create differences, that in the big things of life, we are as one.

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go with fashion and with the season, so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share, in your life, and, like gems, are unique and personal.

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go with fashion and with the season, so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share, in your life, and, like gems, are unique and personal.

An edited portion of the following essay by Bob Marley was read during one of our wedding ceremonies a few weeks ago. The couple took lines they felt right for themselves and their relationship and crafted a reading for their wedding ceremony which worked perfectly for them. Liking the overall tone and texture of what their reading, we were drawn to find the original essay. What follows is what we found, which we suspect, is the original essay. We love the sensitive, depth, breath, comfort, care, and images describing a wonderful, warm, caring, healing, healthy, intimate relationship. We hope you enjoy this essay as much as we do.

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go with fashion and with the season, so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share and, like gems, are unique and personal.

Our blog, Only The Ceremony, has been, up to now, focused on the content of wedding ceremonies, mostly readings and poems. However, with this entry, we plan to introduce poems and prayers we have found helpful for families experiencing the loss of a loved one.

This first poem is dedicated to Rose and Michael who were married 61 years. Rose died Saturday; Michael, died Thursday, more than likely of a broken heart. Both in their 80’s, both with poor health, both deeply connected. The following poem is modified from singular to plural as if Rose and Michael were speaking to their adult children and grand children. We became aware of this poem by Shane’s family; a young man who tragically died the same weekend of an overdose. We remember in a special way the three of them and their families.

We are Still Here

(A modification of: I’m Still Here, Author: Unknown)

Children, please don’t mourn for us

We are still here, though you do not see us.

We are right by your side each night and day

and within your heart we long to stay.

Our bodies are gone but we are always near.

We are everything you feel, see or hear.

Our spirits are free, but we will never depart

as long as you keep us alive in your heart.

We will never wander out of your sight-

We are the brightest stars on a summer night.

We are never be beyond your reach-

We are the warm moist sand when you’re at the beach.

We are the colorful leaves when fall comes around

and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.

We are the beautiful flowers, of which you are so fond,

The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

We are the first bright blossom you’ll see in the spring,

The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

We are the first rays of light when the sun starts to shine,

and you will see our face in the moon lights glow.

When you start thinking there’s no one to love you,

you can talk to us through the Lord above you.

We will whisper our answer through the leaves on the trees,

and you will feel our presence in the soft summer breeze.

We are the hot salty tears that flow when you weep

and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

We are the smile you see on a baby’s face.

Just look for us, we are everyplace!

Charlie and Cheryl Cavalconte

Wedding Celebrants, Ceremony Script Writers, Consultants

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Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go with fashion and with the season, so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant andintimate words you will ever share and, like gems, are unique and personal.

Katie and Brendan love dogs. They wanted to have their dogs as their witnesses, well that just could not happen. So they had this wonderful poem read to celebrate their love and their love of their four legged children.

How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog – Taylor Mali
First of all, it’s a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you’re walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain’t no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.
Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don’t you ever do that again!
Sometimes love just wants to go out for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise. It will run you around the block
and leave you panting, breathless. Pull you in different directions
at once, or wind itself around and around you
until you’re all wound up and you cannot move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go with fashion and with the season, so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share and, like gems, are unique and personal.

This soft, and delicate reflection of Anne Morrow Lindbergh is a beautiful image of relationship. As you deepen, nourish and grow your own particular relationship ask yourselves: are we JOINING or are we SEPARATING or ISOLATING? Life is all about relationships. All of life is about relationships. Life is all about coming together joining and growing our hearts, and our lives. Our joining together involves so much: sensitivity, communication, commitment, care, respect, listening, regard, esteem, awareness, desire, presence, love, safety, vulnerability, intimacy, trust,healing, truth. The events of separation and isolation touch into our dark side of secrets, fear, anger, lies, hurt, wounds, power, control, Questions we feel valuable to keep before us while in our relationship are: Where am I? Where are we? How am I/we willing to grow to join with my partner? What needs nurturing, and watering? What needs to diminish and weeded out? Joining is an ever-growing dynamic. And while these questions are natural and appropriate for our primary relationship, they are also valid questions to ponder while considering my relationships with my family members, my friends, my work and my the various communities to which I belong. As our world experiences so much hurt and so many wounds, we feel these questions are extremely valid to ponder for national and global relationships: How am I/we joining? How am I/we separating? How am I/we isolating? How am I/we called to grow together? How do we grow and heal together?

Here is Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s reading

“A good relationship has a pattern like a dance and is built on some of the same rules. Partners do not need to hold on tightly, because they move confidently in the same pattern, intricate but gay and swift and free, like a country dance of Mozart. To touch heavily would be to arrest the pattern and freeze the movement, to check the endlessly changing beauty of its unfolding. There is no place here for the possessive clutch, the clinging arm, the heavy hand; only the barest touch in passing. Now arm in arm, now face to face, now back to back – it does not matter which. Because they know they are partners moving to the same rhythm, creating a pattern together, and being invisibly nourished by it.”

We hope this sharing has been helpful and you have enjoyed your visit.

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go and there are so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share and, like gems, are personally yours.

This reading was used over the weekend at Samantha’s and Jordan’s wedding. The two of them choose this reading. They feel the ideas of togetherness and participation not possession are key elements in their relationship.

“But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take. It is indeed a fearful gamble. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature.

To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take.If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation. It takes a lifetime to learn another person. When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected.”

Why no images on our blog? Wedding images come and go and there are so many and so varied. We feel it is the words you share with each other, during your wedding ceremony, that are some of the most significant and intimate words you will ever share and, like gems, are personally yours.